Southern California -- this just in

Episcopal bishops-elect excited about ordination

May 14, 2010 | 5:38
pm

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles will cross a threshold Saturday with the ordination of the first two women ever to serve as Episcopal bishops here, one of them a lesbian whose election has roiled the worldwide Anglican church.

On the eve of the ceremony, Mary Glasspool and Diane Jardine Bruce expressed excitement, anticipation and a hope that their elevation to high office will set an example for the wider church.

“Whatever’s going to happen tomorrow is way bigger than just me, or than Diane and me,” said Glasspool, who is gay. “This is a benchmark for the whole church. This is a benchmark where the whole church can say, you know, we are being who we say we are.”

Glasspool said she is headed into Saturday's ordination and consecration ceremony at the Long Beach Arena with “great awe, as well as joy and some 'wow.' "

Glasspool spoke at a news conference Friday in Long Beach alongside Bruce, Episcopal Bishop J. Jon Bruno of Los Angeles and Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. Glasspool and Bruce will both be bishops suffragan, a role in which they will assist Bruno.

Bruno spoke about how much the church has changed since he was ordained into an all-male priesthood. Reminded that many Episcopalians have been upset at the thought of a lesbian bishop, he said, “What we need to do is lead by example and show people that it’s a wonderful and positive thing when you have the right person in the right place at the right time."

Bruce, who stands an inch under 5 feet tall, said she prayed “that the church gets to a time when it doesn’t matter what the color of your skin is, it doesn’t matter what your gender is, it doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation is, what matters is that you love Jesus Christ.”

She added: “I just say, thank God there isn’t a minimum height requirement.”